Travelon Purse - Good Idea or Not

LOL, I think responses may be 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of another! :O)
What it comes down to is what you are personally comfortable with.... as long as it does the job.
Some posters swear by money belts.
Some of us find them awkward and uncomfortable and use other methods to keep our valuables safe; neck wallets; hidden pockets; theft-protective pants; etc.

Travelon and Pacsafe bags with locking zippers are one of those other methods, and one that works IF you remember to always keep those zippers locked and don't let them out of your control, such as hanging one off the back of a cafe chair or placing it at your feet. We have a Pacsafe cross-body bag that my husband carries for his cash and cards, our passports and any museum tickets we've printed out. I pin a little cloth bag under my waistband for a card and my daily cash. What goes into my shoulder bag are just items we might want during the day: wet wipes, bandaids, sunscreen, tissues and that sort of thing + my camera. We also leave some of the valuables back in the room safe, so not ALL of our goodies are on us unless we're changing locations.

There's no wrong answer as long as it works.

I use mine whenever I travel. Some people say there's no need, because people who live there don't use them, but I think it's a LOT more hassle to be pickpocketed or robbed when one is in a foreign country than when one is at home. So, I use it.

When I'm in transit, though, I also use a neck pouch for my passport, some of my money, etc.

If you have one and like the storage...and most importantly, can use it confidently without looking like you are struggling, then by all means.
Remember, a money belt is your deep dive security. Your purse is for day use, still with minimum of money or plastic in it. A Travelon should not replace deep storage of valuables.
It can, however, reduce access to your phone or camera and certainly be better that a back pack (in my opinion)

Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate it.

I actually started using a Fjallraven Kanken #2 backpack instead of my Travelon purse during our BOSI tour last May. It’s lightweight canvas and I can easily clip zippers together so they don’t open while on my back. Of course I use it mainly for glasses, a sweater, water bottle, etc., valuables stay in the room. No one can emphasize enough that you need to always keep your bag secured by you…. in your lap, around leg, whatever. One of our tour members had hers taken from under her chair as they sat at a restaurant in Rome.

I use a travelon purse whenever I travel, including large cities in the US. I just feel better with it. When I am walking, it is in front of me with my hand on top of it—looks pretty casual and my hand is really just resting on it. I think these bags in many ways are a deterrent simply because most pick pockets are looking for a easy target and it’s not worth the effort…

Bring your Travelon purse. I can't imagine ever wearing a money belt.

Good idea. I use an extra small Travelon crossbody purse. The purse holds my daily money and credit card (in a coin purse that’s zipped inside one of the pockets), my phone tethered with a lanyard, Mophie battery pack & charging cord, tiny hairbrush, sun & reading glasses, and a small pouch for a day’s worth of pills and bandaids. Also tickets if I need paper copies or transportation card.

My money belt holds my back up CCs, ATM card and passport. I don’t use the hotel safe because I’m leery of forgetting things. Money belt/neck wallet is only for safe storage.

For days I need more carrying room for sweater, rain gear, camera, etc I use a packable backpack. But I still carry the purse crossbody so I can keep my hand on it or have in front of me for my peace of mind.

This combo worked better for me than a larger purse that cramped my neck.

I always take my Pacsafe crossbody handbag. Kept it locked and my hand resting on it and never worried about being pick pocketed. The only tour members in our group (Italy - Venice, Florence, Rome) that had a problem with pick pockets were wearing backpacks. My husband wore a hidden pocket attached to his belt loop to carry extra cash and an extra credit card. There was no need for me to use a money belt since he had our emergency cash/card.

Fjallraven Kanken #2 backpack I purchased for my last trip to Italy. I found it so annoying that I gave it away to someone who liked it my hotel in Merano.
But I do like my small travelon bag and have used it for many trips.

I'm another one who uses secure crossbody bags when I travel, and have never had a problem in almost 30 years of traveling. As the others have said, keep the bag with you and in sight and just use common sense.

Thank you for the feedback.

As long as it's a small/medium cross body with a zipper top closure, the brand does not matter. The Purse stays on you 24/7, it sit's in your lap when you eat, it is worn in front with your hand on it in public transport, it is worn in front on all excursions, it hangs on you in the toilet...you get the idea? As long as it is lightweight and compact enough to do all this and hold your daily essentials (It differs for everyone), then that sounds like a winner to me.

I like fossil bags, all leather as my personal travel bag/day bag choice. I just like the look and how they blend in and don't really stick out. The last thing I want is a flashy or loud colored purse.

I don’t use the hotel safe because I’m leery of forgetting things.

A tip I've read online that makes sense to me is to put one of the shoes you plan to wear tomorrow in the hotel safe. Won't be leaving with only 1 shoe on.

I also tend to open every drawer and door in the room before I leave even if I haven't used them to make sure nothing is left behind. And I take a careful look at the top of the beds. I did leave a housecoat behind one time because it was dark and the bedspread was dark and I didn't see it. Luckily I got it back.

I also tend to open every drawer and door in the room before I leave even if I haven't used them to make sure nothing is left behind.

Ha ha, I do the same thing - and not just once, but several times. I am almost OCD about checking to make sure I haven't forgotten something. :)

I love my LeSportsac Deluxe Everyday messenger style bag that's made many trips with me--lightweight, expandable, plenty of organization--but for my upcoming trip to Rome I decided I would finally try a Travelon and bought the Classic Essential Messenger in black. I like the 2 secured zippers and it seems like it's a good mid-size for me. The LeSportsac has 5 outside zipped areas and that's a lot of zippers to be vigilant about, vs 3 on the Travelon, 2 of which are lockable. I use a small wristlet for a wallet and that will be clipped to the inside of the purse's main compartment--I can withdraw it if needed but it's tethered so I won't be leaving it anywhere. I also use a pouch for deep storage that's worn inside my jeans.

Initially I used a black Travelon bag worn cross-body but by the end of the day my neck was sore from the weight pulling down. I now use a Dankine crossbody bag. It is lighter weight and also has a zipper top. But agree with Letizia - the brand doesn't matter.

Being aware is most important. For me, not drawing attention to myself (no loud colors or logos) helps to fly under the radar of pickpockets. I keep my purse zipped up, in front of me, hand on top all the time, even when dining. Items that would be difficult to replace (passport, credit/debit cards, extra cash) are in my money belt.

I no longer use hotel safes after having one jam the night before my return flight. Fortunately, the hotel's front desk had a master key. Whew!

I love my Travelon cross-body bag. My original one was a little too large for me so I replaced it with a more medium sized one.
I had a pick-pocket attempt in a Paris metro station on the stairs when my bag had drifted to the side and the little zipper clip slowed the guy down enough that I noticed his fingers and was able to yell at him. I think I'm pretty savvy about this stuff but this guy was good! His partner was trying to distract my friend and I never even noticed him so close behind me.
My bag is not a substitute for my neck pouch, however, which I wear holster style under my arm and pinned to my bra strap.

I agree with Letizia. I find Travelon bags too heavy and opt for something lighter weight and use a small S-biner clip on the zipper. I find the Rick Steves hidden pocket very comfortable and easy to use for ATM card and excess cash….much better than a money belt.

The Travelon purse is great, I have used mine many times in Italy. If it is the kind that is reinforces with steel and steel mesh, even better. Like many others said, I wear mine across my body with my hand resting on it most of the time. It stays around me when I am sitting down eating, on the trains, on the plains. I only carry the daily essentials - cell phone, comb, eyedrops, chewing gum, hand sanitizer (for all the bathrooms without soap), mini rolls of toilet paper (for all those bathrooms without toilet paper), travel kleenex. The bag is great because you can put one of those small 4 oz. water bottles in the side pocket. I use one of the Rick Steves pouch style zippered wallets and bring some cash and my ATM card. As long as you don't make this bag too heavy, it's great. The only people that had trouble with theft were the ones wearing backpacks. The last few times I went to Itlay, I say groups of people wearing their backpacks in the front!! I just had to ask one person why they were doing that, she said their tour guide told them to wear it that way because they were seeing a lot of thefts of backpacks.
Another great thing about the travelon bag is that you can use it as your carry on on your flight to Italy. In the bottom of my bag I can fit all my medications. In the bag I have more essentials cell phone, charger, tickets, my passport, travel books, and most important - my Kindle. I also have room for one makeup compact and a comb.

I always use a money belt - and also have a Travelon purse. Some find the money belts uncomfortable, but I've managed fine in typical Asia and European summers. I actually started the usage when the kids were tiny and I was constantly distracted. This was traveling in the US!

With the belt and the purse (Travelon or other), I split up credit cards and cash. I sometimes use the hotel safes, but I have had trouble with those, so don't fully rely on them.

Travelon has many different styles - someone said they are too heavy. I own several and have taken a big one on the plane and brought a smaller one for daily touring.

I have noticed when it is hot that the contents of the money belt - passport, currency, et - can become damp due to body heat and sweat. I now place those items in a plastic bag.

Each traveler is different. What works for me may not be best for others. That's fine!

Love the Travelon/Pacsafe bags. However I did learn a lesson about carrying one that was too large. The weight eventually hurt my shoulder. I now have a very small one that contains only the essentials. It goes cross body in front and I never take it off. This is of course in addition to my hidden wallet for deep storage. If I need more for the day, raincoat, etc., I have a small lightweight backpack.